Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-03-29
E'COLD SHORT"
His Observations on Current Industrial
Questions.

His Observations on Current Industrial
Questions.
In the current issue of the Age Of Steel
Gold Short" says:
Good iron, according to Col. j. W. Sloss,
a veteran furnaceman of Birmingham, can
be made there for ST.. 90, without count
ing the interest on his 800, 900 investment
in his plant, an item of between $50, 600
and $40, 600. which should be added. Mr..
T. r. Hillman, the pioneer turnaceman of
the same city, claims that $l2.S74 is the
lowest that iron can be made there. This
figure, considering the grade and quality
of iron made, is not remarkable. No. /
Bessemer, made of 65 per cent lake ores
has been made in the Wheeling, West
Virginia, district for $l4.50; cOmpar-
ing grades, qualities and intrinsic
values, this is more remarkable than
the Birmingham claims. Labor, the cheap
ening element in Birmingham iron pro-
ductiOn, has become civilized, and men
will not work there any more for from GO
cents to 81 per day. Like all b%alloOning,
too much gas will burst the bag some day.
In the meantime, men are sednced from
profitable, active and permanent business
occupations aud employment by these false
claims and Misrepresentation, and by this
the harm is done. Why not rather have
stable, substantial progress, based on tan
giblc, realistic advantages? If slow, they
are sure, nevertheless. There is as much
probability of Alabana's eclipsing the
fame and prosperity Of this upper Ohio
Valley as there is of the Mississippi and
Ohio rivers i~nterchanging currents.
In this upper Ohio valley nature has
created unmistakable advantages and IA
%Cilities, marking it as the region pre-
eminent for iron, steel and glass manu-
featuring. Within the last few days a
new natural gas field has been developed
twelve miles below Wheeling, on the Ohio
river. Thus this district is being gradu-
ally encircled by living fountains Of this
wonderful natural fuel, increasing the
supply and removing the possibility of its
ultimate failure away off to a period in
the, as yet, undreamed of future, when
the schemes and accomplishments of this
generation will be remembered only by ira
ditiOn. Allied to the manufacturing advan-
tages and trauspOrtative facilities possessed
by this district, and they are as profuse as
is desirable, even in this age of swift pro-
gress and quick accomplishments, is a soil
wonderfully prolific in yielding all the
hest varieties of cereals, fruits and vegeta-
bles indigenous to North America. 1t is
verify an agricultural country, which
laughs with exuberance when tickled by
the plow." The surplus agricultural pro-
duct of this section would sustain the
whole State of Alabama. Those Western
bOOms are more Scantily fedged than their
Alabama contemporary, and they will pro-
duce aftermaths of regret sooner.
The nail trade continues comparatively
inactive; itpartakes Of the tardiness which
seems to characterize that of all the iron
and steel departments this spring. The
Wheeling factories are running again semi
steadily. The stock of low priced nails
which accumulated when nails were al
most given away, with u chrome for a
bonus, still clog the market. However,
they can not last forever and some of the
weak kneed brethren commence to think
that their fore sight when undertaking the
1861 reaction was decidedly faulty.
This nail business requires an administra-
ton governed by a set of plain, mercantile
laws, and every one engaging in it should
be hound to the observance of them by an
iron bound, steel riveted, copper bOttomed
pledge.